Minnow vending method and machine



March 12, 1968 B, H. ROSS ETAL 3,372,784

MINNOW VENDING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 62 r34 60 98M g as i I E 24 86 a I -52 92 as 42 9O /5 56 ,26 i FIG I I INVENTOR BILLY H. ROSS JERRY D. McMAHON mm, M

ATTORNEY March 12, 1968 B. H. ROSS ETAL 3,372,784

MINNOW VENDING METHOD AND MACHINE Filed Dec. 2, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COIN RECEIVER F GCOUNTER #1 30 #2 5s I I n 40 I36 I42 INVENTOR BILLY H. ROSS JERRY D. McMAHON United States Patent C 3,372,784 MINNOW VENDING METHOD AND MACHINE Billy H. Ross, Corsicana, and Jerry D. McMahon, Tennessee Colony, Tex., assiguors of one-half to said Ross and one-half to said McMahon, Tennessee Colony, Tex.

Filed Dec. 2, 1965, Ser. No. 511,029 19 Claims. (Cl. 194-2) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A machine for vending a predetermined quantity of minnows from a bulk container having a primary receptacle for the minnows and having a restricted outlet. The minnows are concentrated adjacent the outlet and additional water supplied to the primary receptacle from a secondary receptacle to cause the water to overflow through the outlet and carry the minnows, essentially one at a time, through the outlet. The quantity of minnows passing through the outlet is measured, either by counting or by volume, and passed into a delivery receptacle which also contains a predetermined measure of water. After the predetermined quantity of minnows has passed into the delivery container, the measured quantity of minnows plus the measured quantity of water are delivered to the customer.

This invention relates generally to vending, and more particularly relates to a method and machine for vending minnows or other live bait which must be kept in water.

A large majority of fishermen who use live minnows as bait purchase the minnows from bait shops and marinas at the lake. Most of the minnows are kept in relatively small tanks which are both refrigerated and aerated in order to provide the best possible environment for the minnows. When making a sale, it is necessary for'an attendant to use a hand seine to catch the minnows, and handle each of the minnows as it is counted into the customers minnow bucket. This procedure not only requires an attendant, but frequently results in annoying delays to the customer while waiting for the attendant to arrive and then collect and dispense the minnows. Also, some of the minnows are sometimes injured by the handling and soon die.

Various dispensing machines have been proposed for assisting the attendant to more easily catch and count the minnows. Various coin operated vending machines have also been proposed for dispensing a predetermined number of minnows without the assistance of an attendant. One general type of device used for both dispensing and vending employs a large tank for the water and a large number of separate perforated containers in the tank each for holding a predetermined number of minnows. All of the minnows are then emptied from each compartment into the customers minnow bucket either manually or automatically by some type of conveyor system or the like. In addition to being rather complex and involving a large amount of machinery, these machines require that each compartment be individually filled with a predetermined number of minnows which takes a considerable amount of time and trouble.

It has also been proposed to package a predetermind number of minnows in a small sealed container full of water with a suitable oxygenation means to keep the minnows alive for extended periods of time, and then vend the entire sealed container by a vending machine of the same general type used for countless other items. The packaging of the minnows in this manner is rather expensive and in the event the minnows are not sold before the oxygen supply is exhausted, the minnows of course die.

An important object of this invention is to provide an improved machine for automatically dispensing or vending a predetermined quantity of minnows.

A very important object is to provide such a machine which requires no precounting or prepackaging of the minnows.

Another object is to provide such a machine which will dispense a predetermined quantity of water with the minnows.

A further object is to provide such a machine for dispensing minnows quickly and efficiently with minimum injury to the minnows.

Still another object is to provide such a machine which is relatively simple in operation and has a minimum of mechanical parts.

Yet another object is to provide such a machine which may be inexpensively manufactured and operated.

Another object is to provide a method for dispensing a predetermined quantity of minnows and Water.

These and other objects are accomplished by means of a primary receptacle for containing a supply of water and a large number of minnows to be dispensed which has a restricted outlet for passing water and minnows. A means for concentrating the minnows adjacent to the outlet is disposed in the primary receptacle, and a movable gate is positioned in the outlet for selectively blocking the outlet after a predetermined quantity of minnows has passed through the outlet.

More specifically, the outlet is an overflow which determines the normal water level in the primary receptacle. A secondary receptacle is provided for storing a supply of water which may be selectively transferred from the secondary receptacle to the primary receptacle to cause the water in the primary receptacle to overflow through the outlet so that the minnows will be transferred from the primary receptacle through the outlet by the overflowing water.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a delivery receptacle which is filled with water is positioned to receive the minnows as they pass from the outlet. The delivery receptacle may be either filled with water passing through the outlet with the minnows, in which case the excess water will preferably overflow the delivery receptacle and be returned to the secondary receptacle, or may be filled by a separate means from the secondary receptacle, in which case the minnows may be separated from the water passing through the outlet and transferred to the delivery receptacle.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the rising level of water in the delivery receptacle as the minnows are added is used to indicate when a predetermined quantity of minnows has passed through the outlet to the delivery receptacle.

In accordance with various other aspects of the invention, the concentrating means may comprise a piston disposed in a cylindrical primary tank which may be moved within the tank toward the outlet to concentrate the minnows at the outlet, or a perforated basket disposed in the primary tank which may be raised in such a manner as to concentrate the minnows at the outlet.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the piston in the receptacle is moved back and forth within the primary receptacle by transferring water from one side of the piston to the other.

The invention also contemplates a method for dispensing minnows which comprises filling a container with Water to a first predetermined level, adding minnows to the Water until the water rises to a second predetermined level, and dispensing the water and minnows.

The novel features believed characteristic of this invention are set forth in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, as well as other objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a somewhat schematic drawing illustrating a vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a simplified perspective view of the piston of the device of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a simplified perspective view showing the outlet, gate and gate actuating means of the machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is a schematic circuit diagram of the electrical system of the vending machine of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a schematic side view of another dispensing machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a simplified top view of the dispensing machine of FIGURE 5.

Referring now to the drawings, and in particular to FIGURE 1, a vending machine constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The vending machine comprises a primary receptacle 12 which customarily stands full of water up to a level 14 determined by the bottom of an outlet chute 70 presently to be described. The primary receptacle is preferably cylindrical in shape with the longitudinal axis disposed upright.

A circular piston member 16 is reciprocally disposed in the primary receptacle and divides the primary receptacle into upper and lower compartments each of which is filled with water and any number of minnows may be placed in the water above the piston. The piston 16 may be formed by a wooden disk 13 which is connected to an elongated sleeve 22 which is slidingly disposed about a fixed, centrally located guide rod 24. A resilient peripheral seal 26 is affixed around the disk 18 and provides a sliding seal with the side wall of the receptacle 12. Although the primary receptacle 12 and the disk 18 are illustrated as cylindrical and circular, respectively, in shape, it is to be understood that the two may have any complementary shape. As will hereafter become more evident, at fluid-tight seal is not required between either the sleeve 22 and the guide rod 24, or the peripheral seal 26 and the side walls of the receptacle 12. The upper face 28 of the piston 16 is preferably conical or convex in curvature so that when it projects above the water level 14 as will hereafter be described, the minnows will be concentrated in a minimum water space around the peripheral of the conical face.

The piston 16 is reciprocated upwardly and downwardly along the guide rod 24 and within the walls of the tank 12 by means of a reversible pump 30 which is connected by conduit 32 to the compartment found in the primary receptacle 12 below the piston 16, and by conduit 34 to the compartment above the piston 16. Thus when the pump 30 is operated to transfer water from the top compartment of the primary receptacle to the bottom compartment, the piston 16 will be moved from the position illustrated toward the top of the receptacle. A plu-' rality of orifices 36 are provided in the wall of the primary receptacle 12 at spaced intervals near the top so that a portion of the water being pumped into the lower compartment will bypass the piston through these orifices to progressively slow the upward movement of the piston as it approaches its upper limit of travel. However, the piston will ultimately move to the position 16a indicated in dotted outline so that the conical upper surface 28 will project above the surface of the water 14. When the pump 30 is reversed, water is withdrawn from the lower compartment below the piston by the conduit 32 and returned to the upper compartment so that the piston will be returned to the position illustrated.

A limit switch 40 is opened when the piston is in its lowermost position and closed when the piston moves upwardly. This is effected by means of a flexible cable 42 which passes over a sheave 44 journaled on a bracket secured to the upper end of the primary receptacle 12. One end of the cable 42 is connected to the piston 16, and the other end to the toggle of the switch 41!. The cable 42 is of such length that when the piston 16 is in its lowermost position, the tension on the cable 42 pulls upwardly on the toggle of the switch to open the switch. When the piston 16 is moved upwardly, the upward force on the switch toggle is changed to a downward force by means of a weight 46 which closes the switch 4! The switch 40 is used to stop operation of the pump 30 after the piston 16 has returned to its lower limit as will hereafter be described.

The primary receptacle 12 is positioned within a secondary receptacle 52 which preferably extends around the entire periphery of the primary receptacle 12 so that any overflow from the primary receptacle 12 will automatically return to the secondary receptacle 52. The secondary receptacle 52 contains a supply of water 54 for purposes which will presently be described. A second pump 56 takes fluid from the secondary receptacle 52 by means of conduit 58 and transfers it to the top of the primary receptacle 12 by means of conduit 60. The pump 56 also transfers a predetermined volume of water to a delivery receptacle 62 by means of a conduit 64, which is a branch from the conduit 60. A normally closed solenoid operated valve 66 terminates the flow of Water to the delivery receptacle when the delivery receptacle is filled to a first predetermined level as will hereafter be described. Water transferred by the pump 56 to the primary receptacle 12 causes the primary receptacle to overflow for purposes which will presently be described.

Water transferred to the primary receptacle 12 by the pump 56 is excess water and overflows through the outlet chute 70. The outlet of the conduit is preferably on the opposite side of the receptacle 12 from the chute 70 so that the excess water will flow transversely across the receptacle and tend to carry the minnows to the outlet chute. A gate 72 controls the passage of minnows through the outlet chute 7t and is normally biased upwardly by a spring 74 into the closed position. The gate 72 is pulled downwardly against the force of the spring 74 into the open position by means of a solenoid 76 and pivoted lever arm 73. The gate 72 has a narrow opening 80 which permits only one minnow at a time to pass through the gate. A fluid-tight seal between the gate 72 and outlet chute 70 is not required because the overflowing water is returned to the secondary tank 52. The gate 72 may merely comprise a piece of sheet metal inserted in a slot cut diagonally across the bottom of the outlet chute 70.

When the gate 72 is lowered and excess water added by the conduit 60, water will pass out through the opening 80, and any minnows in the vicinity of the chute will tend to follow the water and also pass through the opening. By concentrating the minnows at the outlet chute by the piston 16, the minnows will pass through the opening with good consistency so that a number of minnows may be delivered from the primary receptacle 12 in a minimum amount of time. The water and minnows passing through the opening 80 then pass over a separation screen 82. The water will pass through the screen 82 and return to the secondary receptacle 52, while the minnows will pass through a delivery chute 84 to the deliver receptacle 62.

The bottom of the delivery receptacle 62 is formed by a door 86 which is mounted on a pivoted lever arm 88. A solenoid is connected to the opposite end of the lever arm 88 and, when energized, pivots the lever 88 in such a manner that the door 86 closes and provides a fluid-tight receptacle. When the solenoid 90 is de-energized, the door 86 pivots into the position 861: shown in dotted outline and the water and minnows accumulated in the delivery receptacle 62 pass out through a funnel 92.

An electrode tube 94 is in fluid communication with the delivery receptacle 62, preferably at a point adjacent the bottom thereof, and has a ground electrode 98, a reference electrode 99 and selection electrodes a, b and c which are disposed at successively higher levels for purposes which will presently be described. It will also be noted that the delivery receptacle 62 has a restricted neck portion 62a which is at the same level as the electrodes 99 and a, b and c. As the water rises in the neck portion 62a due to the minnows falling into the delivery receptacle 62, the water level rises a corresponding amount in the tube 94 and completes a circuit through the electrode a, b or c which closes the gate 72 as will presently be described. A separate electrode tube 94 is provided, rather than merely placing the electrodes in the neck 62a, in order to eliminate false indications of the water level when the minnows splash into the water and cause turbulence in the neck 62a. The three electrodes a, b and c are so spaced as to indicate when one, two or three quantities, i.e., volumes, of minnows have been transferred to the delivery receptacle 62.

In the operation of the machine 10, the second pump 56 is set in operation, the solenoid 90 is energized so that the bottom 86 of the delivery receptacle 62 is closed, and the pump 56 is set in operation so that water is withdrawn from the secondary receptacle 52 and pumped through conduits 60 and 64 to the primary receptacle 12 and the delivery receptacle 62, respectively. When the water in the delivery receptacle 62 reaches the level of electrode 99, the valve 66 is closed so that no more water is transferred to the delivery receptacle 62. Pump is then started and water transferred from the top of the receptacle 12 to the bottom, thus raising the piston 16, and the solenoid 76 is energized to lower the gate 72. As the piston 16 moves upwardly, the excess Water added by conduit 60 overflows through the outlet chute 70 and passes through the gate and over the screen separator 82. As the rising piston 16 concentrates the minnows near the outlet chute 70, the minnows follow the flowing water through the opening 80 in the gate 72 and pass over the screen 82 and through the delivery chute 84 into the delivery receptacle 62. When enough minnows have passed into the delivery receptacle 62 for the water level to rise to the selected electrode a, b or c, solenoid 76 is deenergized and the gate 72 closed, pump 56 is stopped and the solenoid 90 is de-energized to dump the measured quantity of water and minnows through the spout 92 into the customers minnow bucket. The pump 30 is also reversed to lower the piston 16 until the switch opens.

The vending machine of FIGURE 1 is operated by means of the circuit indicated generally by the reference numeral 100 and illustratedschematically in FIGURE 4 wherein the components shown in FIGURE 1 are indicated by the same reference characters. A manually operated switch 102 is operated by the customer to select a desired quantity of minnows, such as one, two or three dozen minnows as approximated by volume. The switch 102 is coupled to a coin receiver and counter 104 as represented by the dotted line 106 so that the coin receiver and counter will momentarily close a switch 103 only when the correct value of coins has been deposited to pay for the quantity of minnows selected by the customer.

When the switch 108 is momentarily closed, the coil of relay 110 is momentarily energized from an A.C. power supply 112 through switch 108, conductor 114, the coil of relay 110 and conductor 116. The relay 119 is a latching type relay which is thrown by a pulse and then remains in the thrown position until another pulse. Thus the switchblades 110a and 11Gb are moved from the position illustrated to positions against the lower contacts so that the circuit through the upper switchblade 1100 is open and the circuit through the lower switchblade lltlb is closed. Thus a circuit is completed from the A.C.

supply 112 through conductor 118, switchblade 11th), conductor 120, the primary winding of a power transformer 122, and a conductor 124. This energizes the DC. power supplies 125 and 126 which are formed by the center tapped secondary of the power transformer 122 and the diodes as illustrated. The DC. power supply 125 is connected to drive the coil of a relay 128, and the DC. power supply 126 is connected to drive the coil of a relay 130.

When switchblade lltlb is closed, the solenoid of the valve 66 is also energized to open the valve 66 by means of the circuit through conductor 132, the solenoid of valve 66, switchblade 128a, conductor 134, and switchblade 1101;. Also, the solenoid is energized to close the bottom 86 of the delivery receptacle 62 by means of the circuit through conductor 118, switchblade b, conductors and 134, the solenoid coil 90 and conductors 136, 138 and 132. Also, the pump 56, which is connected in parallel with the solenoid 9th, is energized by conductors 140 and 142 and water is pumped from the secondary receptacle 52 through conduit 66 to the top of the primary receptacle 12, and through conduit 64 and valve 66 to the delivery receptacle 62.

When the water in the delivery receptacle 62 rises to electrode 99, a circuit is completed from the DC. power supply through the coil of relay 128 and electrodes 99 and 98 to ground. This opens switchblade 128a to de-energize and close the solenoid valve 66 and stop the how of water to the delivery receptacle 62. A circuit is also completed through switchblade 12% to energize the coil of relay 150 and close switchblades 150a and 15%. When switchblade 15% closes, the circuit from electrodes 99 to 98 is shunted through the resistor 152 to protect the electrodes. When switchblade 156a closes, a circuit is completed through conductor 118, switchblade 116b, conductors 120 and 134, switchblade 1511a, conductor 154, solenoid 76, and conductors 156, 136, 138 and 192 to lower the gate 72. A circuit is also completed from conductor 154 to start operation of the pump 36 and raise the piston 16 through conductor 158 and switch blade 160a of a reversing relay 160, and conductor 162 to the motor of the pump 30, and then through conductors 164, 138 and 132. Both water and minnows then overflow from the primary receptacle 12 and the minnows fall into the delivery receptacle 62 as heretofore described.

When a suflicient volume of minnows has entered the delivery receptacle 62 to cause the water to raise the active electrode a, b or c as determined by the selector switch 102, a circuit is completed from the DO power supply 126 through the coil of relay 136, the switch 192, the active electrode, and through the parallel paths formed by electrode 98 and by the resistor 152, and switchblade 150b, thus closing switchblade a. When switchblade 130a closes, the coil of relay 110 is again pulsed through a circuit comprised of conductors 113 and 166, switchblade 130a, conductors 168 and 1'76, the coil of the relay, and conductor 116 back to the power supply, and this returns switchblades 1111a and lltlb to the upper contacts. When switchblade 11% is open, the gate solenoid 76 is de-energized thereby closing the gate 72, solenoid 90 is de-energized thus lowering the bottom 86 of the delivery receptacle 62 and dumping the water and minnows in the delivery receptacle through the funnel 92 into the customers minnow bucket, and pump motor 56 is stopped.

When the Water is dumped from the delivery receptacle 62, relays 128, and 136 are all de-energized because the circuits through the various electrodes are opened. However, since the piston 16 is now raised from its lowest position, the switch 46 is closed and a circuit is completed from conductor 118 through switchblade 1111a, conductor 172, switch at), conductor 174, the coil of relay 161 and conductor 132 back to the power supply, thus moving the switchblades a and 16% of relay 168 to the lower position. The closing of the switchblade 16% against the lower contact maintains the pump motor 3% energized through the circuit comprised of conductor 118, switchblade 110a, conductor 172, switch 40, and Conductors 174 and 176. Also, a reversing relay 178 is energized through the lower Switchblade 16% to effect the reversal of the pump 30. The piston 16 will then be moved downwardly as water is pumped from the bottom of the primary receptacle 12 through conduit 32 and returned to the primary receptacle 12 above the piston by conduit 34. When the piston 16 reaches its lower limit, the switch 46 will again be opened, breaking the current to the coil of relay 169 and to the motor 30 and coil 178.

it will be noted that if the switch 168 should be closed by the deposit of additional coins while the piston 16 is at some raised position, switchblade 110a will immediately be opened to discontinue the operation of the pump 30 in the reverse direction so that the cycle can be repeated without lowering the piston 16, thus saving considerable time.

Another embodiment of the invention is indicated generally by the reference character 200 in FIGURES 5 and 6. The device 2th) is comprised of a primary tank 202 for holding a supply of water. The primary tank 202 is generally triangular in shape and has side walls 266 and 208, a long end wall 210 and a short end wall 212. The bottom 214 of the tank 202 slopes from the wide end 210 downwardly toward the narrow end 212 as best seen in FIGURE 5. The sides of an overflow chute 216 are formed by a continuation of the upper portion of the side walls 266 and 268. A gate 218 is provided in the overflow chute 216 and is normally closed by a spring 220 and is opened by a solenoid 222 substantially as heretofore described in connection with the machine 10.

The minnows are contained Within a wire basket 230 which conforms substantially to the primary tank 262 except that the narrow end is open and has a resilient sealing means 232 which slidingly engages the short end wall 212 of the primary receptacle 202. The Wire basket 230 may be raised by windlasses 236 and 237 to the position 23% indicated in dotted outline in FIGURE 5. The windlasses 236 and 237 may be driven by a suitable motor 239 and drive train 238 as illustrated. When the wire basket 23% is in the raised position 230a, it will be noted that a major portion of the bottom of the wire basket is above the normal water level 240 which is determined by the bottom of the outlet chute 216. Thus when the wire basket is raised, the minnows will be concentrated in the small volume of water within the basket adjacent to the outlet chute 216.

The primary receptacle 202 is disposed within a secondary receptacle indicated generally by the reference numeral 242 which ha a bottom 244, an end Wall 246, side walls 248 and 256] and a low end wall 252. A pump 254 withdraws water from the secondary receptacle 24-2 through conduit 256 and transfers the water through conduit 25-8 to the primary receptable 202 causing the water to overflow through the outlet chute 216. The overflowing water passes through a suitable minnow counter 260 and through a downturned spout 262 into a delivery receptacle 264. The delivery receptacle 264 rests on a drain apron 266 and a screened opening 268 is provided in one side of the delivery receptacle to permit excess Water to return to the secondary receptacle 242 while retaining the minnows.

The counter 26% may be of any suitable type, such as the one described in connection with the machine 10, but may conveniently use a beam of light passing through a narrow channel and a photosensitive sensor so that when the beam is interrupted by a minnow, an electrical ignal will be produced indicating that the minnow has passed. The electrical signal may then be used to operate a counter of some type. Since minnows tend to be transparent when viewed from the side, the beam is preferably directed vertically so that it will be interrupted by the thick vertical portion of the minnow which appears opaque. Also, a number of separate concentrated beams may be so arrayed across the'narrow channel as to insure that a minnow cannot pass through the channel Without interrupting one of the beams and causing a count. Further, if it is merely desired to dispense the minnows, rather than vend the minnows, the counter 260 may merely comprise a transparent plate which permits the attendant to count the minnows as they pass through the channel into the delivery receptable 264. The dispensing machine 209 may also be operated as a vending machine by suitable circuitry for sequentially lowering the gate 218, initiating operation of the pump 254 and raising the basket 230. Then when the predetermined number of minnows has passed through the counter 260, the gate 218 may be automatically raised to stop the passage of minnows, the pump 254 stopped, and the basket 230 lowered.

From the foregoing description it will be appreciated that a machine for quickly and efliciently dispensing minnows has been described. The machine includes an electrical system for automatically operating the machine in response to a coin counter so that it can vend predetermined quantities of minnows. If desired, one or more of the functions carried out by the automatic system may be performed by an attendant if the machine is to be used merely as a dispenser. The machine does not require precounting of the minnows since a large number of minnows are placed in the tank and then dispensed or vended in predetermined small numbers. By dispensing the minnows by volume, rather than by number, compensation is made for any smaller minnows which may be in the lot, thereby reducing the usual requirement that all the minnows be of the same general size. The machine permits a large number of minnows to be kept in a minimum volume, yetefliciently dispenses all of the minnows due to the effective concentration means. Yet the machine is very simple and has a minimum of mechanical parts which will wear out so that it is economical to build and operate.

It is to be understood that although reference has been made generally to minnows in the foregoing specification and following claims, the machine is applicable in its broader aspects to any aquatic animals which may be used as bait, and in its very broadest aspects is even applicable to any items which may be advantageously stored in a volume of water prior to vending. Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described in detail, it is also to be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a machine for dispensing minnows or the like, the combination of:

a primary receptacle for containing a supply of water and the minnows to be dispensed having a restricted outlet for passing water and minnows for the primary receptacle,

means for supplying additional water to the primary receptacle to cause water to pass through the restricted outlet when it is desired to dispense a portion of the minnows from the primary receptacle,

movable concentration means in the primary receptacle for concentrating the minnows adjacent the outlet when it is desired to dispense a portion of the minnows from the primary receptacle, and

movable gate means in the outlet for selectively blocking the restricted outlet to prevent the passage of the minnows through the outlet after a predetermined quantity of minnows has passed through the outlet.

2. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein the means for supplying additional water comprises:

a secondary receptacle for storing a supply of water,

and

means for selectively transferring water from the secondary receptacle to the primary receptacle to cause the water in the primary receptacle to pass through the outlet.

3. The combination defined in claim 2 further characterized by: r

a delivery receptacle positioned to receive the minnows as they pass from the outlet, and

means for filling the delivery receptacle with a predetermined volume of water.

4. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein:

the means for filling the delivery receptacle with a predetermined volume of water comprises means for transferring water from the secondary receptacle to the delivery receptacle, and further characterized by:

means for separating minnows and water passing through the restricted outlet and transferring only the minnows to the delivery receptacle.

5. The combination defined in claim 4 further characterized by:

means responsive to a predetermined increase in the volume of water in the delivery receptacle for automatically closing the gate means when the predetermined increase in volume occurs whereby a predetermined volume of minnows will be transferred from the primary receptacle to the delivery receptacle.

6. The combination defined in claim 3 wherein the means connected to fill the delivery receptacle with a predetermined volume of water comprises:

means for delivering the overflowing water and minnows carried therein to the delivery receptacle, and

means for returning water which overflows the delivery receptacle to the secondary receptacle.

7. In a machine for dispensing minnows or the like,

the combination of:

a primary receptacle for containing a supply of water and the minnows to be dispensed having a restricted outlet for passing water and minnows from the primary receptacle,

movable concentration means in the primary receptacle for concentrating the minnows adjacent the restricted outlet when it is desired to dispense a portion of the minnows from the primary receptacle,

movable gate means in the outlet for selectively blocking the outlet to prevent the passage of the minnows through the outlet after a predetermined quantity of minnows has passed through the outlet,

means for detecting when a predetermined quantity of minnows has passed from the outlet and producing a first signal, and

means connected to the movable gate means and responsive to the first signal for automatically closing the gate means after a preselected quantity of minnows has passed from the outlet.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 further characterized by:

coin receiving and counting means for producing a second signal when a predetermined value in coins has been deposited, and

means responsive to the second signal for moving the concentration means in a direction to cause the minnows to be concentrated adjacent the outlet and moving the movable gate means to open the outlet, and then returning the means for concentrating the minnows to an inactive position after the gate means has been closed.

9. The combination defined in claim 1 wherein:

the primary receptacle comprises a cylindrical receptacle,

the outlet is adjacent one end of the tank, and

the concentration means comprises a piston reciprocally disposed Within the cylindrical receptacle and in sealing engagement with the walls of the tank for keeping the minnows on one side of the piston, and means for moving the piston toward the outlet to concentrate the minnows and away from the outlet to disperse the minnows.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 wherein:

the cylindrical receptacle is disposed with the longitudinal axis generally upright,

the outlet is at the top end of the cylindrical receptacle,

and

the minnows are contained in the water above the piston.

11. In a machine for dispensing minnows and the like,

the combination of:

a primary receptacle for containing a supply of water and the minnows to be dispensed comprising an upright cylindrical receptacle having a restricted outlet at the upper end thereof for passing water and minnows and defining a normal water level,

concentration means comprising a piston reciprocally disposed within the cylindrical tank and in substantial sealing engagement with the walls of the tank for keeping the minnows above the piston,

means for moving the piston to concentrate the minnows adjacent the outlet including means for selectively pumping water into the tank below the piston when it is desired to dispense the minnows, and

movable gate means in the outlet for selectively blocking the restricted outlet to prevent the passage of the minnows through the outlet after a predetermined quantity of minnows has passed through the outlet.

12. The combination defined in claim 11 wherein:

the means for moving the piston includes means for withdrawing the liquid pumped into the bottom of the primary receptacle from the top of the primary receptacle, and further characterized by:

a secondary receptacle for storing a supply of water, and

means for transferring water from the secondary receptacle to the top of the primary receptacle to cause the primary receptacle to overflow through the outlet.

13. The combination defined in claim 12 further characterized by:

a delivery receptacle,

means connected to fill the delivery receptacle with water to a predetermined level,

means connected to the outlet for separating the minnows and water passing from the outlet and transferring the minnows to the delivery receptacle, and

means for sensing when the water in the delivery receptacle has increased to a predetermined level and for closing the gate means.

14. In a device for dispensing a predetermined volume of minnows or the like, the combination of a delivery receptacle for holding water up to a predetermined upper level, and means for sequentially transferring essentially only minnows to the receptacle until the water in the receptacle has risen from a predetermined lower level to the predetermined upper level and then terminating the transfer of minnows.

15. The method for vending a predetermined volume of minnows which comprises:

filling a container with water to a first predetermined level, sequentially adding essentially only minnows to the water until the water rises to a second predetermined level, and dispensing the water and the minnows. 16. The method for vending minnows or the like from a bulk container having a normal water level and a restricted outlet at the normal water level which comprises: adding water to the bulk container to cause the water to overflow through the restricted opening, concentrating the minnows adjacent the restricted opening to cause the minnows to pass generally sequentially through the opening with the overflowing water,

measuring the minnows passing through the opening, and terminating the passage of minnows through the opening after a predetermined measure of minnows has passed through the opening.

17. The method defined in claim 16 further characterized by:

filling a delivery receptacle with water to a predetermined lower level,

separating the minnows passing through the restricted outlet from the water passing through the restricted outlet and delivering the separated minnows to the delivery receptacle, and

terminating the passage of minnows through the restricted outlet when the water in the delivery receptacle reaches a predetermined upper level.

18. The method defined in claim 16 further characterized by:

delivering the minnows and water passing through the restricted outlet to a delivery receptacle while permitting all water in excess of a predetermined volume to overflow the delivery receptacle, and

delivering the minnows and the predetermined volume of water to the customer.

19. In a device for dispensing a predetermined volume of minnows or the like, the combination of:

a delivery receptacle for holding water up to a predetermined upper level,

first electrode means for completing a circuit through water in the receptacle when the water reaches a predetermined lower level to initiate the sequential transfer of minnows to the receptacle, and

second electrode means for completing a circuit through water in the receptacle when the water reaches the upper level to terminate the transfer of minnows to the receptacle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,474,745 6/1949 Lewis 43-56 3,105,320 10/1963 Milanos et a1. 43-56 3,212,210 10/1965 Schmelzer 43--55 X 3,237,339 3/1966 Rice 4355 X 3,273,276 9/1966 Englesson 4355 X STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT B. REEVES, Examiner. 

